Thoughts on the Upcoming 2006 WNBA Season (west)

With tip-off only a few weeks away to the WNBA’s 10th season, it seems like now is as good a time as any to make some comments about how I think the new season will unfold. One major thing making this tough is the uncertainty of which international players will be participating this season–for many teams, that will have a major impact on their season.

We’ll laugh about how wrong I was about all of it come September, I’m sure.

PHOENIX – Let’s begin with the team I’ve followed since the league’s inception: the Phoenix Mercury. This is very much a team like the Chicago Bulls just after MJ arrived…lots of promise, but a little short on grabbing the brass ring. That is, until the right supporting cast and the system were all in place.

The big question is whether Paul Westhead’s go-go-go strategy (we don’t need no stinkin’ defense if we score more than the other team can) will work. While it’s tailor-made for the new 24-second shot clock, I’m not at all certain that a center-less team can be hugely successful in this league. But, since Maria Stepanova is again MIA (arguably the best int’l post player in the world…and my favorite WNBA player since her come-out game in the conference finals in her rookie year), the team needed to try something new.

I’m thinking that they’ll end up a little playoff-shy again this season.

SAN ANTONIO – The Silver Stars are my pick as the breakout team in 2006. They have shooters, they have height, they have creativity, and they have a former WNBA Coach of the Year in Dan Hughes.

Now that she has a season behind her, and some rest, I think Feenstra is going to become a dominating presence in the paint. While the run-and-gun teams might force her to rest on the bench at times, I think her shot altering/blocking abilities will be the leveler. With Bibrzycka and Zolman, I think the shooting is more than covered, and the talents of “Pee-Wee” Johnson are not to be ignored.

I would not be surprised to this cellar-dweller from the 2005 season end up in the playoffs.

LOS ANGELES – I think this is going to be a tough season for the Sparks. They’ve given up a lot of players, they have a new coach, and I don’t think they have enough experience playing together to be a terror on the court. As talented as Leslie and Holdsclaw are, they can’t carry this team on their shoulders when other teams are filled with established chemistry.

I think they’ll be lucky to even make the playoffs.

SEATTLE – For the most part, the core of the Seattle Storm has remained consistent since their championship run. Unfortunately, with a hobbled Lauren Jackson, the hopes for the team aren’t in winning the championship, but it making it past the first round of the playoffs (which they didn’t manage last year). However, as long as Bird can keep from bustin’ her beak again, Seattle should be able to hang in there.

HOUSTON – Ah, the Comets…they were a bit of a shocker last season, but it’s important not to count out any team with Swoopes and Thompson. Snow has become quite the force in the middle, though still has some flashes of the inconsistency that have plagued her over the years.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that the supporting cast is quite up to where it needs to be to make a championship run. I do expect this team to make it to the playoffs, and possibly to the conference finals, but I don’t think they’ll manage to put a fifth ring on their fingers.

MINNESOTA – A couple of seasons ago, about the time that Nicole Ohlde signed with the team, I thought the Lynx were the team that could become then next powerhouse. They’ve stumbled a bit, and with a smallish team, I don’t see that changing this season. They’ve got good experience, and they have a star in Ohlde, but on the whole, other teams have more.

If the Lynx make it to the playoffs, it will be a struggle.

SACRAMENTO – The 2005 champion Monarchs start off the season weaker than last year with DeMya Walker out on maternity leave. But, even a weaker Monarchs team is a pretty darned good team. If rookie Kim Smith makes the roster, the shooting with Lawson and Powell should open up the inside play for Griffith and Brunson.

If any team in the west is going to make it to the finals, this would be my pick. They are strong, they have shooters, and their experience gives them savvy. Without Walker, they’ll stumble a bit, but they should be the powerhouse of the west.